General Inspection

The strength and shape of the home are provided by the Structure. The two main components of the structure are the foundation and the framing system.  Each of these components are critical in providing the building with long lasting comfort and stability. Major defects in the structure can be extensive and costly to repair.

The Roof System is designed to protect all the components of the house. There are numerous roof styles and finish materials. Each style and material is inspected carefully for wear, leaks, defects and other deficiencies.  Roofing problems that go undetected can cause serious harm to other components of the building. Styles and types of roofs are dictated by location, age and preference. We will carefully evaluate the condition of the material used and note defects.

A comfortable and safe living environment is provided by the Mechanical Systems of the house. Each system has many components and there are many types of each system. We will evaluate the safe operational condition of each system and report any defects discovered. The mechanical systems encompass the entire dwelling and exterior portions.

Plumbing involves the installation, maintenance and alteration of piping, appliances and accessories in connection with sanitary or storm drainage facilities, venting systems and public or private water supply systems. A plumbing system consists of three systems: (1) water supply, (2) drain and waste disposal, (3) mechanical, ample fixtures and equipment. We will inspect and operate all fixtures and run several gallons of water through the plumbing system, checking the overall condition of the system. Leaking pipes, dripping valves, clogged pipes, corrosion, reversed hot and cold water supplies, limited hot water or inadequate water pressure are indications of a defective plumbing system.

We inspect the Electrical service equipment, general circuit wiring, distribution panels, disconnect panels, light fixtures, ceiling fans, switches & receptacle outlets, GFCI and AFCI breakers. All electrical issues are safety issues.

The Exterior of the home protects the interior. The exterior components include: roof, vents, siding, trim, gutters, downspouts, windows, garage, electrical, plumbing, A/C heat pumps, structure, decks, patios, grounds and related items. Each of these items are inspected for its condition and how it relates to the dwelling. Defects in exterior components such as the windows or siding can affect other components of the home.

Interior components of the house include all the various rooms and related items, which are not covered in other aspects of the inspection on the interior of the dwelling. We will go through each room including all visible and accessible areas of the house. This is an important part of the inspection because symptoms of larger problems are often visible in the various rooms of your home. Settling can be noticed in the floors and walls. Roof or plumbing leaks may be noticed on the ceilings. Poor quality workmanship on mechanical distributions such as outlets and heat convection may be visible. We will go through each room making notes of relevant defects and issues.

The Kitchen is often considered the heart and soul of the home. This is where the majority of the American public spends most of their time when indoors and not sleeping. Kitchens, which were installed using substandard materials and products will be a source of expensive future upgrades. Poor quality or worn cabinets or counters may require expensive upgrading or repair. Complete kitchen replacement is very expensive. It is normal to spend more than $15,000 on a new kitchen! Recent cosmetic repairs will be looked at carefully to determine the quality of work and whether or not they were done to mask a more serious problem. We will look for water damage around the sink, dishwasher and refrigerator, as well as for safety hazards.

The Bathroom of the home can be one of the most expensive areas to replace or refurbish. With simple maintenance, such as caulking and grouting of tile and shower areas, expensive repairs can be avoided. Many future homeowners grossly underestimate the cost of a bathroom replacement because of the underlying defects which require repairs. A well maintained but outdated bathroom can often be updated at a reasonable cost by replacing wallpaper, shower doors, sink vanity and other minor items. We will carefully check all areas including the tub and shower areas and around the toilet in particular. These areas are more prone to hidden water damage. We will advise you of visible defects and alert you to potential hidden defects such as leaking shower pans, which can only be checked in a limited capacity.                                                                        

The Garage is considered a component of the exterior of the home and is usually where the main electrical panel, water heater and sometimes the air-handler(s) are located. We carefully inspect the floors, walls and ceilings for non-typical cracks and gaps as well as the garage to house entrance door and garage overhead door(s) for proper alignment, photoelectric eye and pressure switch. Homeowners with automatic garage door openers that do not automatically reverse should repair or replace them with new openers which do reverse to prevent young children from being trapped and killed under closing garage doors.

Inspection of the Grounds surrounding the home will include items such as grading for drainage, patios, landscaping (retaining walls and other alterations to the natural flow of the property), fences, trees and bushes which may have an effect on the home and all other items as they relate to the exterior of the house. Patios and surrounding soil should be pitched away from the house to keep water from ponding at the foundation and undermining the concrete slab. Trees and bushes need to be kept away from the building's components to prevent wear and damage, and prevent a possible safety hazard.